Tributes to tragic Pikers

The search for the missing fisherman on Lough Ree was led by the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI.

Published:16:00Thursday 10 April 2014

Craigavon Council paid tribute to the rescue crews and volunteers who worked tirelessly for weeks to recover the body of Portadown Piker Daryl Burke.

Ulster Unionist Cllr Colin McCusker who is a second cousin of another Piker David Warnock who died in the same tragedy passed his condolences to the family of Mr Burke.

Mayor Mark Baxter said up to 200 people were involved in the search and praised the generosity of the community in helping to raise funds for the bereaved families.

Cllrs Darryn Causby and Jonathan Buckley also paid tribute to the rescue crews. SDLP Cllr Joe Nelson described it as a tragic incident which shows how the community can come together. Sinn Fein Cllr Gemma McKenna described it as an ‘unthinkable tragedy’: “Everyone across Ireland has been touched by this.”